Air fryer baked potato with all the fixins

Air fryer baked potato: Get ready for the best baked potato of your life! Cooking a Russet potato in the air fryer delivers a perfectly crisp peel and pillowy interior. The whole thing is ready to go in 35 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of your potato.

Whenever I see people wrapping aluminum foil around a potato before popping it into the oven, I want to dive in front of them slow motion style, as if I’m saving them from an oncoming train.

Noooooooooooooo…..

That’s because the best part of the baked potato, without a doubt, is the crisp, crackly peel. Wrap that baby in foil, and you’re never going to get that slight crunch that makes the baked potato experience.

Yes, some people are all about the pillowy texture of the potato inside – ready to be fluffed with a fork and some non-dairy butter. And sure, I like that too. But the peel? That’s where the magic is at.In fact, one of my first memories is sitting at the dining room table, and I must have been only four or five. We would have baked potatoes for dinner, and I’d eat the peel first with just enough of the fluff that I’d be allowed to leave the table.

However, in my adult life, baked potatoes haven’t been a part of my usual dinner repertoire. It’s not because my love for them has dampened, but rather, I’m typically not thinking about what I’d like to eat in an hour from now. I usually top out at about 45 minutes, and cooking potatoes in the oven requires an hour of forethought.

So over the years, I’ve generally opted for baked french fries instead when I was in a potato-y mood. They’re ready in 30 minutes, about the same time as everything else on my plate.

Air fryer baked potato

I’ve talked about my deep and unabiding love for my air fryer many times over. Now it has revolutionized how I feel about the baked potato. (Okay, so “baked” isn’t entirely appropriate since baking isn’t involved, but what else do you call a whole cooked potato?)

First off, the air fryer gets the peel perfectly crackling crisp. It’s flaky, and chewy, and everything you could want in a peel. And the inside? Oh, my gosh. It’s so steaming, and light. Airy even. And to finish off all of this sorcery, the whole shebang is ready to go in 35 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of your potato.

(I recommend throwing an extra baked potato into the air fryer for your bagged lunch the next day. Lunch sorted!)I’ve been filling mine with non-dairy butter, Kite Hill chive cream cheese, freshly chopped chives, salt, and pepper. But you can go all out with the fillings and move this potato into meal category with the addition of browned seitan bacon, and kalamata olives. There’s really no wrong way to do this thing. You could even load it up with 3 bean chili and a ladling of cashew queso. It’s rife with possibilities!

But whatever you do, don’t wrap that potato in aluminum foil, or I will come looking for you.

Want to see how easy it is to make an air fryer baked potato? Watch the video!

Using a knife, poke holes into a medium sized Russet potato. Rub the potato with oil, onion powder, and coarse salt. Put in the air fryer.

Set the air fryer to 390 degrees. Cook for 35 - 40 minutes, turning once halfway through. (The time will vary depending on the size of your potato.) If the potato gets too dark on the outside, lower the temperature to 370 degrees. When a fork pierces into the potato easily, it's done.

Cut through the potato and fill with any or all of the optional toppings.

Comments

I totally agree about the skin being the best part! I never wrap my potatoes in foil. I made baked potatoes in the air fryer for the first time a few weeks ago and they were amazing! I'm going to try some of these fixin's next time!

I'm glad you are equally enchanted by your air fryer. I talk about mine so much that people are like, "Are you selling these?" Haha! Maybe I should be! I can't wait to hear about your baked potato results in it. You are going to love it!

Haha yeah I never got the whole "foil-wrapped" thing... like, just boil the potato if you want it all soft?!
(To answer your rhetorical question... you could go British-English and call it a jacket potato, thereby eliminating any confusion as to the baking method...)
Hummus on a jacket potato has been my latest revelation! Even better, hummus and olives... surprisingly delicious!

Thank you, Claire! I'm glad you're with me about the madness of wrapping a potato in foil. I can understand if a person is putting the potato directly on coals on a fire or something to protect it, but in the oven? No way!
You know, when we were in England, I saw jacket potatoes for sale all over, but I didn't realize that was just the name for a baked potato. That's super cute! It's a potato that's still wearing its jacket.
I'll have to try hummus on my potato next time. That sounds delicious!

I too have a love of my air fryer! I use it every day. It's like having a microwave that acts like an oven! I can't wait to try it with a baked potato. So far I've done frozen French fries, onion rings, kale chips, whole grilled sandwiches, cookies, and broccoli

You're so right that an air fryer is like a microwave that acts like an oven. It is speedy like a microwave, but with the results of an oven. I haven't tried whole grilled sandwiches in it yet or cookies! How intriguing! That's a fun thing about it too. There's so much to explore in terms of possibilities.

I used my air fryer for the first time tonight and made these baked potatoes. They were amazing! They were so crispy on the outside and very soft on the inside. I am already thinking about what I want to make in it next.

Because of your blog, I had to get an air fryer. Found a great one on sale a few weeks ago and we're having a blast with it. Best thing I've made so far are calzones (recipe came with the fryer, but it had meat and cheese in it). I've put a few things in with the vegan cheese and they come out great. I was recently making a loaf in the crock pot and had a couple of sweet potatoes that I wanted to cook, so I just threw them in there. Came out great, but you inspired me to cook them in the air fryer Also, aluminum foil isn't exactly safe to cook in - the aluminum will leach into your food and many studies show that this is not safe!!!
Thanks for all of your wonderful posts Cadry!

Aw, that's so great, Pamm! I'm so happy to hear that you got a great deal on an air fryer, and that you're loving it as much as I am. Calzones are a wonderful idea! I need to do that too. Vegan calzones are a rarity in restaurants, but I really like them. Thank you for such a nice comment! It means a lot.

Hi, Doug! Yes, you shouldn't have a problem skipping the oil. I've read from others who have made a baked potato in the air fryer without it. I'd just recommend keeping an eye on it to make sure it doesn't burn, and lowering the temperature if needed. Please let me know how it goes for you!

Hi again, Doug! My mom happened to mention that she followed my air fryer potato recipe but with no oil. She also made it again with oil. She said that it worked just fine either way, but the oil-free version was a little drier for obvious reasons. She said even without oil, the potato peel still got crisp. I wanted to let you know!

Do it! We used to make french fries at least once a week, and now they're getting displaced for baked potatoes instead. Plus, it's so easy to move potatoes into main dish category with a few simple additions. It's rife with possibilities!

I've been seeing postings about air-fried potatoes but haven't tried it yet — still too obsessed with fries and chips. However, after seeing your gorgeous photos, I think I'm ready. And I agree, the skin is the best part!

I haven't used my air fryer all that much since I got it. I actually have not been happy with it. I will say to it's credit....I haven't tried a large varieties of things yet. I am excited about trying the baked potato though. It get's so hot here in Florida and I would like to have a baked potato during the summer sometime (when it is too hot for the oven). Thanks for posting and sharing!!!!

That's too bad that you haven't been happy with your air fryer. Hopefully as you make some more things with it, you'll find more dishes that you enjoy in it. I think the air fryer makes the best baked potato. You'll have to let me know what you think! In the Florida heat, I don't blame you for not wanting to turn on the oven. Best of luck!

"Non dairy butter"????? So you apparently think chemical cocktail butter is better. Great recipe except for that. FYI, all the latest studies have shown that dairy fat is healthy. Time to move on...we're not talking the federal government food pyramid here.

Well, aren't you a delight? I don't know what you're reading, but all of the latest studies DON'T show that dairy fat is healthy. More importantly, it's certainly not healthy for the cows who are impregnated repeatedly so that they will keep lactating, and who then have their offspring taken from them. This is all so that humans, who have no biological need for another species' milk, can ingest it. It's an even worse situation for their offspring who either become dairy cows if they are female or veal if they are male.
It seems that you're more interested in making swipes than gaining information. However, if you're interested, plenty of vegan butter exists that isn't a "chemical cocktail." Miyoko's is terrific, and it's made with a coconut oil base. For those who prefer to make their own, I've heard good things about this one, which also has a coconut oil base.